Removable roller for loader

ABSTRACT

A vehicular loader has a bucket which can be raised or lowered. A hollow horizontal roller which can be filled with water or emptied has an axis extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the loader. The roller is detachably secured to the bucket in such manner that the roller when in place is freely rotatable about its own axis. The roller can be manufactured to fit various types and sizes of end loaders.

United States Patent Norvell 1 July 8, 1975 [54] REMOVABLE ROLLER F LOADER 2,870,554 1/1959 Marvin 1. 172/785 x 3,440,744 4 1969 5 'th 37 117.5 1761 Inventor l BOX 1135 3,595,411 7/1971 A gles 214/145 1, L1bby, Mont. 59923 22 Filed; Apt 2 1974 Primary Examiner-Stephen C. Pellegrino [21] Appl. No: 464,457 57] ABSTRACT A vehicular loader has a bucket which can be raised [52] US. Cl. 172/438; 214/145; 37/1175 or lowered. A hollow horizontal roller which can be [51] Int. Cl A011) 49/02 filled with water or emptied has an axis extending [58] Field of Search 172/438, 253, 802, 785, transversely to the longitudinal axis of the loader. The 172/274; 214/145; 37/1175; 404/86 roller is detachably secured to the bucket in such manner that the roller when in place is freely rotatable [56] References Cited about its own axis. The roller can be manufactured to UNITED STATES PATENTS fit various types and sizes of end loaders.

2,812,084 11/1957 Silbaugh 172/274 X 3 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures REMOVABLE ROLLER FOR LOADER SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION My invention is directed toward vehicular loaders having buckets which can be raised or lowered and more particularly is directed toward a modification which enables the loader to also be used as a roller whereby separate vehicular loaders and rollers are no longer required and efficiency is increased with consequent reduced cost.

To this end, I provide a horizontal hollow roller having an axis extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the loader. Means secured to the sides of the bucket and extending below the bottom are engaged detachably by additional means supporting the roller in such manner that the roller is freely rotatable about its own axis. The roller can be filled with water or emptied.

When the loader is to be used in conventional manner, the roller is removed. When the roller is secured in position for use, the bucket is lowered until the roller touches the surface to be rolled. The loader can then be used in the same manner as a roller. Down pressure from the loader hydraulic system can also be used, to gether with the weight of the roller.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings: FIG. 1 is a side view of my invention; and FIG. 2 is a detail end view thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIGS 1 and 2, vehicular loader has a bucket 12 pivotally secured to support arms 14 at one set of ends. The other ends are pivotally secured to the body of the loader.

Either detachably secured to each side of the bucket at the outside surface or welded thereto are guide and support pockets 16. Vertical elongated flat support members 18 each engage a corresponding pocket 16 at its upper end and is bolted or otherwise detachably secured to the side of the bucket.

A horizontal hollow roller 20 having its axis extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the loader is secured at each end by suitable bearings 22 to the bottom ends of members 10 whereby the roller when in position is freely rotatable about its own axis.

Elongated outriggers 24 are each pivotally secured at one end 26 to a corresponding side of each member 18 (two outriggers for each member) and each have a foot 28 pivotally secured to the opposite end.

When not in use, the outriggers are swung vertically out of the way, being held with upwardly pointing feet by clips 30. When in use, the outriggers incline downward and outward and support members 18 in vertical position to facilitate mounting.

The roller has filler and drain plug means 32.

While I have described my invention with particular reference to the drawings, such is not to be considered as limiting its actual scope.

Having thus described this invention, what is asserted as new is:

1. In combination with a vehicular loader having a bucket secured to support arms whereby the bucket can be raised or lowered:

a horizontal hollow roller having an axle extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the loader, said roller having filler and drain plug means whereby the roller can be filled with water or emptied;

first roller support means secured to the sides of the bucket and extending below the bottom of the bucket;

second support means connected to the roller to be freely rotatable about its own axis, the second means detachably engaging the first means; and

outrigger means connected to the first means for supporting the first means in vertical position when the loader is not in use to facilitate ease of connecting or disconnecting the roller.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said outrigger means includes two elongated members pivotally secured at one set of ends to the first means on one side of the roller and two elongated members pivotally secured at the other set of ends to the first means on the opposite side of the roller, each member having a foot pivotally secured to its opposite end, said members extending inclinedly downward and outward to support the first means and being disposed vertically when not in use.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said first means includes guide and support pockets and support members removably disposed in the pockets. 

1. In combination with a vehicular loader having a bucket secured to support arms whereby the bucket can be raised or lowered: A HORIZONTAL HOLLOW ROLLER HAVING AN AXLE EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE LOADER, SAID ROLLER HAVING FILLER AND DRAIN PLUG MEANS WHEREBY THE ROLLER CAN BE FILLED WITH WATER OR EMPTIED; FIRST ROLLER SUPPORT MEANS SECURED TO THE SIDES OF THE BUCKET AND EXTENDING BELOW THE BOTTOM OF THE BUCKET; SECOND SUPPORT MEANS CONNECTED TO THE ROLLER TO BE FREELY ROTATABLE ABOUT ITS OWN AXIS, THE SECOND MEANS DETACHABLY ENGAGING THE FIRST MEANS; AND OUTRIGGER MEANS CONNECTED TO THE FIRST MEANS FOR SUPPORTING THE FIRST MEANS IN VERTICAL POSITION WHEN THE LOADER IS NOT IN USE TO FACILITATE EASE OF CONNECTING OR DISCONNECTING THE ROLLER.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said outrigger means includes two elongated members pivotally secured at one set of ends to the first means on one side of the roller and two elongated members pivotally secured at the other set of ends to the first means on the opposite side of the roller, each member having a foot pivotally secured to its opposite end, said members extending inclinedly downward and outward to support the first means and being disposed vertically when not in use.
 3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said first means includes guide and support pockets and support members removably disposed in the pockets. 